Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 16 August 2011

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Tuesday, August 16, 2011   Certainly there will be times when you wish you had more spending money, more time to sleep and more time for fun and recreation. You may feel restricted now, but you should consider your current situation as the perfect set of circumstances for your growth. Within the restrictions that define your present existence, the only thing to do is to discipline yourself and head in the direction of growth and self-improvement. In the process of exerting yourself in such endeavours, you will without a doubt build and strengthen your character.      From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Tuesday, August 16, 2011   A person's death is not determined by illness. In our own time, the people of Iki and Tsushima, though not suffering from illness, were slaughtered in an instant by the Mongols. It is not certain that, because one is ill, one will die. And could not this illness of your husband's be the Buddha's design, because the Vimalakirti and Nirvana sutras both teach that sick people will surely attain Buddhahood? Illness gives rise to the resolve to attain the way.   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 937 The Good Medicine for All Ills Written to the lay nun Myoshin on August 16, probably in 1278      Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Tuesday, August 16, 2011   As long as we are human, we are bound to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What distinguishes a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a dishonest one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to one's mistakes and take bold steps to redress them.     Sensei on Human Relationships - Words of Wisdom    It is much more valuable to look for the strengths in others--you gain nothing by criticizing people's imperfections.